SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The McNay Art Museum is adding a significant new work to its permanent collection this summer with the installation of Screenhouse (2019), a large-scale outdoor sculpture by acclaimed Puerto Rican artist Edra Soto.
Scheduled for installation in late July, the 10-foot-high gazebo-inspired structure will become the first outdoor sculpture by a Latina artist on the museum’s grounds, marking an important milestone for the institution’s growing collection of Latinx art.
Constructed from approximately 400 charcoal-colored cast concrete blocks, Screenhouse blends architecture, sculpture, and cultural history. The installation will be surrounded by native San Antonio plants that mirror foliage commonly found in Puerto Rico, creating a space designed not only to be viewed, but also experienced by visitors.
The work is part of Soto’s ongoing GRAFT series, which draws inspiration from rejas and quiebrasoles, decorative concrete blocks and iron grills frequently found in residential neighborhoods throughout the Caribbean and the American South. Traditionally used to provide shade, ventilation, privacy, and security, these architectural elements have become cultural symbols throughout Puerto Rico.
“‘Screenhouse’ will be an extraordinary addition to the McNay’s permanent collection, serving as both a striking architectural sculpture and a dynamic gathering space,” said Mia Lopez, curator of Latinx art at the McNay Art Museum. “By introducing these rejas and quiebrasoles to San Antonio, Edra Soto evokes the nostalgic warmth of home for the Caribbean diaspora while opening a broader conversation about history, culture, and public space.”
Born in Puerto Rico and now based in Chicago, Soto’s work explores the Caribbean’s role in American history and examines Puerto Rico’s unique relationship with the United States. Through her artistic practice, she highlights often-overlooked African influences embedded within Puerto Rican architecture and culture.
Many of the patterns incorporated into Screenhouse trace their origins to Yoruba symbols brought to the Caribbean by enslaved Africans. While Spanish colonial influences are frequently associated with Puerto Rico’s architecture, Soto’s work seeks to bring attention to these deeper cultural connections.
“My artistic practice encourages viewers to reflect more closely on architectural motifs common in Puerto Rico’s working-class communities and to experience them beyond mere utility and aesthetics,” Soto said. “Often, Puerto Rico’s status as an unincorporated United States territory renders its history imperceptible. Screenhouse invites visitors to an interactive encounter with Caribbean history, which is part of American history.”
Museum officials say the acquisition reflects the McNay’s commitment to broadening the narrative of American art by including more Latinx voices and perspectives within its collection.
The sculpture’s geometric patterns are expected to create a visual dialogue with the McNay’s historic architecture, particularly the decorative tilework of founder Marion Koogler McNay’s former residence. Its bold silhouette will also complement nearby works, including Tony Smith’s cubist sculpture Asteriskos (1968).
“The McNay’s grounds are free and open to all during daylight hours, and we look forward to welcoming visitors to experience Edra Soto’s Screenhouse,” said Matthew McLendon, Ph.D., director and CEO of the McNay Art Museum. “We invite our community to move through the sculpture as they explore the grounds, or to pause and take in its intricate design and rich cultural meaning.”
The acquisition of Screenhouse was made possible in part through funding dedicated to American art and underscores the museum’s ongoing efforts to expand representation within its collection.
Once installed, visitors will be able to experience the sculpture free of charge as part of the McNay’s outdoor grounds, which remain open to the public during daylight hours.
Screenhouse was fabricated by Navillus Woodworks and joins the McNay’s permanent collection as a lasting addition to San Antonio’s cultural landscape.